Why healthcare spending was at the center of the US government shutdown battle

Democrats said they won’t vote for legislation unless Republicans reversed Medicaid cuts and extended subsidies

  • US government shutdown – live updates

The federal government shut down on Wednesday in part, due to a battle between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare spending.

Democrats had said that they would not vote for legislation to keep the government open unless Donald Trump and Republicans, who hold the majority in Congress, agreed to reverse...

Tensions expected as Trump meets with top Democrats and Republicans in effort to avoid shutdown

Trump and Republicans are unfazed at prospect of shutdown, and talks with Democrats are anticipated to be confrontational

  • US politics – latest updates

Democrats and Republicans are gearing up for a crunch White House meeting with Donald Trump in an 11th-hour bid to avert a potentially damaging federal government shutdown.

Monday’s gathering is aimed at reaching an agreement over funding the government and largely hinges on Democrat demands for an extensi...

Mayors sue over Trump’s efforts to restrict Obamacare signups

Democratic mayors challenge new rules that give millions of people less time to enroll in coverage

New Trump administration rules that give millions of people a shorter timeframe to sign up for the Affordable Care Act’s health care coverage are facing a legal challenge from Democratic mayors around the country.

The rules, rolled out last month, reverse a Biden-era effort to expand access to the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance, commonly called “Obamacare” or the ACA. The previous Democratic administration expanded the enrollment window for the coverage, which led to record enrollment.

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US supreme court ruling sets stage for more politicized science under RFK Jr

Experts call decision that found health secretary has power to convene key panel ‘classic good news, bad news’

A US supreme court decision affirming the constitutionality of Obamacare sets the stage for more politicized science in the future, health law experts said about the court’s decision.

The court’s majority opinion in Kennedy v Braidwood Management found that an expert panel – the preventive services taskforce – convened under the Affordable Care Act is under the direct oversight of the health secretary.

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US supreme court ruling sets stage for more politicized science under RFK Jr

Experts call decision that found health secretary has power to convene key panel ‘classic good news, bad news’

A US supreme court decision affirming the constitutionality of Obamacare sets the stage for more politicized science in the future, health law experts said about the court’s decision.

The court’s majority opinion in Kennedy v Braidwood Management found that an expert panel – the preventive services taskforce – convened under the Affordable Care Act is under the direct oversight of the health secretary.

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US supreme court rules key provision of Obamacare constitutional

Case challenged how members of an obscure but vital healthcare committee are appointed

The US supreme court has ruled that a key provision of “Obamacare”, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, is constitutional. The case challenged how members of an obscure but vital healthcare committee are appointed.

The committee, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), is a panel of 16 volunteer health experts who determine which evidence-based preventive health services private insurance companies must cover without cost for patients.

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Obama says Republicans are putting millions of Americans’ healthcare at risk

Rare intervention from former president urges people to call their senators to oppose Trump tax bill

Barack Obama has warned that Congress is putting millions of Americans at risk of losing healthcare coverage, in a rare intervention from the former president as the Republican party advances legislation that would gut major provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

“Congressional Republicans are trying to weaken the Affordable Care Act and put millions of people at risk of losing their health care,” Obama posted on social media. “Call your Senators and tell them we can’t let that happen.”

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US health groups vow to fight GOP cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare

Cuts worth $880bn could leave 13 million Americans without insurance in proposal that has divided Republicans

US advocacy groups are waging an intensive campaign to protect Medicaid and Obamacare from Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”, after House Republicans proposed an $880bn cut that could leave an estimated 13 million Americans without health insurance.

The House bill left Republicans’ most controversial proposals on the table, but has divided Senate Republicans: one cal...

US supreme court hears challenge to Obamacare free preventive healthcare

At issue is constitutionality of taskforce that decides which services insurers must cover without cost to patients

The US supreme court on Monday heard arguments in a case that could threaten Americans’ access to free preventive healthcare services under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

At issue is the constitutionality of the US preventive services taskforce, which plays a critical role in determining which preventive services health insurers must cover ...

Oz vows to make Americans healthier but dodges questions on Trump cuts

TV doctor and former heart surgeon vows to fight healthcare fraud at Senate hearing for health role

Dr Mehmet Oz promised senators on Friday to fight healthcare fraud and push to make Americans healthier if he becomes the next leader of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.But the former heart surgeon and TV personality dodged several opportunities to say broadly whether he would oppose cuts to Medicaid, the government-funded program for people with low inc...